Friday, October 10, 2008 | Reason : In the News | print version

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Scientists confirm shark's 'virgin birth'

by MSNBC

Thanks to Ivan Bailey for the link.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27107721/

Scientists confirm shark's 'virgin birth'

Pup carried by Atlantic blacktip shark contained no male genetic material

By Steve Szkotak

RICHMOND, Va. - Scientists have confirmed the second case of a "virgin birth" in a shark.

In a study reported Friday in the Journal of Fish Biology, scientists said DNA testing proved that a pup carried by a female Atlantic blacktip shark in the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center contained no genetic material from a male.

The first documented case of asexual reproduction, or parthenogenesis, among sharks involved a pup born to a hammerhead at an Omaha, Neb., zoo.

"This first case was no fluke," Demian Chapman, a shark scientist and lead author of the second study, said in a statement. "It is quite possible that this is something female sharks of many species can do on occasion."

The aquarium sharks that reproduced without mates each carried only one pup, while some shark species can produce litters numbering in the dozen or more. The scientists cautioned that the rare asexual births should not be viewed as a possible solution to declining global shark populations.

"It is very unlikely that a small number of female survivors could build their numbers up very quickly by undergoing virgin birth," Chapman said.

The medical mystery began 16 months ago after the death of the Atlantic blacktip shark named Tidbit at the Virginia Beach aquarium. No male blacktip sharks were present during her eight years at the aquarium.

In May 2007, the 5-foot, 94-pound shark died of stress-related complications related to her unknown pregnancy after undergoing a yearly checkup. The 10-inch shark pup was found during a necropsy of Tidbit, surprising aquarium officials. They initially thought the embryonic pup was either a product of a virgin birth or a cross between the blacktip and a male of another shark species — which has never been documented, Chapman said.

Tidbit's pup was nearly full term, and likely would have been quickly eaten by "really big sand tiger sharks" that were in the tank, Chapman said in a telephone interview from Florida.

That is what happened to the tiny hammerhead pup in the Omaha case.

"By the time they could realize what they were looking at, something munched the baby," he said of aquarium workers. The remains of the pup were used for the DNA testing.

Virgin birth has been proven in some bony fish, amphibians, reptiles and birds, and has been suspected among sharks in the wild. The scientists who studied the Virginia and Nebraska sharks said the newly formed pups acquired one set of chromosomes when the mother's chromosomes split during egg development, then united anew.

Absent the chromosomes present in the male sperm, the offspring of an asexual conception have reduced genetic diversity and, the scientists said, may be at a disadvantage for surviving in the wild. A pup, for instance, can be more susceptible to congenital disorders and diseases.

The scientists said their findings offer "intriguing questions" about how frequently automictic parthenogenesis occurs in the wild.

"It is possible that parthenogenesis could become more common in these sharks if population densities become so low that females have trouble finding mates," said Mahmood Shivji, one of the scientists and director of the Guy Harvey Research Institute at Nova Southeastern University in Florida.

The DNA fingerprinting techniques used by the scientists are identical to those used in human paternity testing.

Chapman, who is with the Institute for Ocean Conservation Science at Stony Brook, was assisted in the study by Beth Firchau of the Virginia Aquarium.

Chapman and Shivji were on the team that made the first discovery of virgin birth involving the Nebraska shark.

Posted: Friday, October 10, 2008 | Permalink

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1. Comment #263037 by alabasterocean on October 10, 2008 at 6:13 am

It's a miracle!!! But what has Jesus to do with a hammerhead? Is the virgin born pup the second coming of Jesus? Stay tuned for the crucifixion and resurrection!

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2. Comment #263038 by GordonYKWong on October 10, 2008 at 6:15 am

It is the second coming I tell you...

but poor sweet baby Jesus was munch on by the nasty sharks. gosh darn those sharks :-(

Other Comments by GordonYKWong

3. Comment #263039 by nickthelight on October 10, 2008 at 6:16 am

Interesting but how does this happen?

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4. Comment #263040 by alabasterocean on October 10, 2008 at 6:19 am

Interesting but how does the happen?

Don't you understand Nickthelight: It's a god damed miracle!!!

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5. Comment #263052 by mismos00 on October 10, 2008 at 6:48 am

Immaculate Conception!

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6. Comment #263053 by nickthelight on October 10, 2008 at 6:48 am

@alabasterocean >

Is there any such thing as a God 'Blessed' miracle?!

Other Comments by nickthelight

7. Comment #263061 by foolish sea otter on October 10, 2008 at 7:23 am

Oh no what if it's the Anti-Shark?

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8. Comment #263062 by jmrunning3 on October 10, 2008 at 7:25 am

God's still just practicing?

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9. Comment #263064 by beeline on October 10, 2008 at 7:29 am

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthenogenesis#Automictic_parthenogenesis

This is defined as a reproduction resulting when the set of chromosomes acquired from the mother, pairs with an exact copy of itself, which can be described as "half a clone". The animal still is unique and not a clone of her mother. In typical parthenogenesis the individual offspring differ from one another and their mother.

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10. Comment #263070 by Ajuydog on October 10, 2008 at 7:41 am

1 jesus was male
2 jesus was born of a virgin
3 parthenogenesis only results in females (in mammals)
4 from 2 and 3 jesus was female
5 1 contradicts 4
6 therefore God Exists!!!

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11. Comment #263074 by firstelder_d on October 10, 2008 at 8:08 am

Ajuydog you forgot one thing

0 assume jesus existed

Thats important the rest falls apart without it. Although number 2 is sketchy because the 'medical records' (aka the bible) isn't very reliable

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12. Comment #263075 by Ai Deng on October 10, 2008 at 8:10 am

A question popped in my head from this article...Does anybody know, or has there been any study related to how and why asexual reproduction was evolved out of more complex life forms? Any ideas?

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13. Comment #263078 by Ajuydog on October 10, 2008 at 8:13 am

firstelder

You were not assuming I was being serious were you???

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14. Comment #263085 by firstelder_d on October 10, 2008 at 8:19 am

Ajuydog: No I wasn't, Why were you serious?

Ai Deng: If I remember correctly it's thought sexual reproduction evolved as a defense against parasites, maybe parasites are less of problem for those sharks now

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15. Comment #263088 by Pope Joan on October 10, 2008 at 8:23 am

Ajuydog

"Jesus was born of a virgin,"

Biblically, though...

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.

Edit: Mathew 1:18

The Holy Spirit only had to have sex once.

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16. Comment #263094 by Ajuydog on October 10, 2008 at 8:30 am

Hmmm, it's all too easy to misinterpret written conversations without normal visual cues.

jesus could af course have been both male and female and hence truly represents all (wo)men! Or we could apply a little parsimony to the whole sorry tale.

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17. Comment #263098 by ridelo on October 10, 2008 at 8:32 am

Can he walk on water?

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18. Comment #263099 by Rich Wiltshir on October 10, 2008 at 8:33 am

Sorry folks, I don't see what's spectacular about this. "Life will find a way". These are an ancient lineage whose DNA seems not to have deactivated the capacity - speculation under Ocham's influence!!

Besides the churches already have their share of sharks devouring free-thinking minds.

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19. Comment #263132 by Swordmaiden on October 10, 2008 at 9:45 am

Jesus was female....she was a Cross dresser ! geddit?

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20. Comment #263189 by Lucas on October 10, 2008 at 11:32 am

So... if "fish, amphibians, reptiles and birds" can engage in parthenogenesis, are mammals some sort of exception? Does anyone know of this happening in mammals (aside from that lying hussy Mary; "Gee, I just don't know HOW that baby got in there!")?

Okay I guess Mary couldn't have said, "Gee."

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21. Comment #263225 by Ivan The Not So Bad on October 10, 2008 at 12:06 pm

Jawsus!

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22. Comment #263239 by Border Collie on October 10, 2008 at 12:19 pm

A lot of unmarried Texas Baptist girls have immaculate conceptions also. At least, that's what they tell daddies and mommas when they start showin'!

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23. Comment #263262 by 8teist on October 10, 2008 at 12:54 pm

Hmmmmmmm,gives new meaning to the phrase,go fuck yourself....................

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24. Comment #263296 by prettygoodformonkeys on October 10, 2008 at 1:48 pm

God's taste in partners has changed in 2000 years, it seems.

Watching too much shark porn, maybe?

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25. Comment #263300 by Swordmaiden on October 10, 2008 at 1:53 pm

has anyone elee noticed that McCain has beady black eyes like a shark?

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26. Comment #263303 by mordacious1 on October 10, 2008 at 1:55 pm

There is a rumor that the shark was born with a Roman nose. *ducks under desk*

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27. Comment #263304 by Gregg Townsend on October 10, 2008 at 2:02 pm

26. Comment #263303 by mordacious1

"Stwike him Centuwian!"

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28. Comment #263307 by sirjebbington on October 10, 2008 at 2:11 pm

McCain doesn't have beady eyes like a shark.
Sharks have beady eyes like McCain.

Did that make any sense?

Other Comments by sirjebbington

29. Comment #263345 by mrgoodjob on October 10, 2008 at 4:42 pm

Just like the Virgin Mary... shark turns out to be a lying slut.

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30. Comment #263360 by WilliamP on October 10, 2008 at 5:39 pm

Maybe this is the second coming of Christ; but this time he's Hindu.

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31. Comment #263390 by Alfrescoid on October 10, 2008 at 7:46 pm

"Vewy wuffly...and fwow him to the fwoor!"

Apologies to Michael Palin.

It's a sign! Abandon the gourd - follow the one true Shark - Father, Son and Holy Cartilage.

Other Comments by Alfrescoid

32. Comment #263413 by DanPinto on October 10, 2008 at 8:57 pm

I, for one, welcome our new shark overlord.

All Hail Shark!

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33. Comment #263439 by axeanne on October 11, 2008 at 2:35 am

It is obvious, sharks have wandered away from God.

Sharks have original shark sin. God had to send his son, Jawsus, to save all of shark-kind.

There has been more than one Jawsus. When Jawsus is born in an aquarium, he/she can only spread the good word to sharks in the aquarium. The non-shark inhabitants of the aquarium get upset because the sharks believe they are the chosen fishes...

Sounds absurd, I know, but a virgin birth must be for a reason...let's insert God and Jawsus.

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34. Comment #263444 by Roland_F on October 11, 2008 at 4:39 am

Immaculate Conception!

virgin birth is NOT immaculate conception !! Mary was the chosen "virgin", so she herself had to be without original sin , therefore her mother e.g. Jesus granny Anne has to conceive Mary without the original sin of the fall = immaculate conception.

The Holy Spirit only had to have sex once.

No the "holy spirit" already had his first intercourse with Sarah wife of the chosen patriarch Abraham of the chosen people and Sarah got pregnant way after her menopause. So the "holy spirit" could be considered as the greatest womanizer and adulterer of ancient times (a Bronze age Casanova) ...

But virgin birth is nothing special : ERVERY ancient hero and smart person was considered born of a virgin like Romulus founder of Rome, smart philosophers like Plato, inspired persons like Buddha, Half-God's fathered in amorous adventures like Hercules and so on and on and on .....
And there are more than a dozen redeemers of human sins dying for us mortals from Osiris, Horus, Mithras, Dionysius, Jeshu ha Nortzri (= Jesus the Nazorene) and the like, so what's wrong with Zeus, Jupiter, "The Holy Spirit" or some other horny dominant male have some fun with a lonely female shark !

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35. Comment #263457 by Swordmaiden on October 11, 2008 at 7:15 am

..is this why Xtians have a fish symbol on their cars?
Similarity to the words Jews - Jaws?

oh, and I'm with Danpinto.....all hail the Shark!

Will it end up being crucified by the
Emperor Aquaticus?

Q: How do you nail a shark to a cross ?
A: Very carefully!

Getting coat...

Other Comments by Swordmaiden

36. Comment #263680 by Colwyn Abernathy on October 12, 2008 at 12:18 pm

prettygoodformonkeys,

Watching too much shark porn, maybe?

Gives Shark Week on The Discovery Channel a whole new meaning, dunnit? ;)

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37. Comment #263977 by William Carlton on October 13, 2008 at 12:50 pm

Okay, I believe in Jesus now.

Other Comments by William Carlton

38. Comment #264896 by 4horsefins on October 15, 2008 at 12:09 pm

Honey,
I know we have been waiting along time to consummate this relationship...oh yea...did you hear about parthenogenesis in sharks...oh yea...I am pregnant.

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